Tube closing machine with heated jaws



April 20, 1937. c. J. was-rm 2,077,553

TUBE CLOSING MACHINE WITH HEATED JAWS Filed June 29, 1953 2 SheetsSheet 1 marks 77 65% W 'B y gh 53 44 f 5'0 XW' 7 ,g fl

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TUBE CLOSING MACHINE WITH HEATED JAWS Filed June 29, 1953' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 20, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TUBE CLOSING MACHINE WITH HEATED JAWS Application June 29, 1933, Serial No. 678,186

' 8 Claims. (01. 219-42) My invention relates to machines adapted to close and seal collapsible and/or flexible tubes according to a new and novel method and with a new and improved type of closure and seal,

5 and more specifically in the new and novel improvement in the closing mechanism, so modifying this mechanism that heat may be applied to the tubes-and the temperature of the closing members properly controlled within definite l limits.

The tubes closed on these machines may be made of a soft alloy, such as tin, lead or aluminum or from some cellulose material such as celluloid, pyroxylin, Cellophane or paper. They are usually 15 made with a thin walled body, open at one end and terminating in a breast at the other end, which is ordinarily provided with a neck adapted to receive and be closed with some form of cap. These tubes are used as dispensing containers 20 for fluid or viscous material such as tooth paste, shaving creams, paints, food products or extracts, etc.

Heretofore, it has been the practice to rely on a closure made by folding and bending the fiat- 25 tened but dry end of the tube two, three or more times and in many different ways. For many I kinds of products, which it would be desirable to pack in tubes, this type of dry closure made at room temperature has not proved satisfactory.

One of the greatest difficulties to guard against is the breathing action or expansion and contraction of gases which takes place in changing temperatures with certain materials, and which causes the product to ferment or decay. Much effort has been expended in the attempt of producing a tight-and dependable closure and a number of methods have been proposed but none, so far, has been found commercially practical.

I have found the use of heated closing mechanisms desirable and of decided advantage with some of the new types of materials used in the manufacture of collapsible tubes as well as in several of the new methods developed in closing the open end of the filled tubes.

The purpose of my invention is to provide simple and efficient mechanism for use where heat is required in closing tubes. It is also the purpose of my invention to provide means for controlling the temperature of the closing mechanism and maintain this temperature within definite limits.

It is very important to have the temperature in perfect control but, at the same time, it must be conveniently adjustable for the varying heat re- 55 quirements found in this particular field.

A tube closure requiring heated sealing mechanism is described in my co-pending application, Hermetic tube closure, Serial No. 561,111, filed September 4, 1931.

I have also found it of decided advantage to use 5 heated closing mechanisms for some of the cements used in producing the tube seals described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 667,823, filed April 25, 1933, and Serial No. 667,824, filed April 25, 1933.

Celluloid tubes have a tendency to crack when flattened and folded in making the closure. I have found that the cracking is avoided if a slight amount of heat is used to soften the material of the tube walls at the point of closures. In closing tubes of this type of material it has been necessary to use a special type of clip which has one leg twice as long on one side as on the other. In closing the tube it was necessary to flatten it out by hand and press the clip down over the flattened position when placing the tube in the closing machine. Without the clip the tube would spring back into its normal cylindrical shape as soon as the pressure on the sides were released and it would be impossible to make the customaryfolds in closing the tube without having the clips act as a stiffening member to retain the fold in the shape produced by the closing mechanism. I have, however, found that if the tube walls are softened sufficiently by the closing and folding mechanism, when the folds are being made, they will retain their shape long enough to permit the attaching of a standard clip. The use of a standard clip or a clip made in the same machine as the closing and filling is performed naturally means economy in this process. The temperature, however, of the closing jaws must be maintained within very close limits for tubes of this kind, the range being between 140 and 150 F. If this temperature is exceeded the tubes are softened too much and become mushy and lose their shape entirely.

For a further exposition of my invention reference may be had to the annexed drawings and specification at the end of which my' invention will be specifically pointed out and claimed.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of a machine with one type of heat control illus- 0 trated on the right hand side thereof and another type of heat control illustrated on the left hand side thereof.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing a modified type of heat control.

Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of one jaw in the modification shown in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, is shown a dial I00 adapted to receive and carry a plurality of cups IIII or other means for supporting the plurality of tubes whose ends are to be closed, folded and sealed by the means provided for that purpose at the several stations along the route of the tube through the machine. In place of the dial any form of a conveyor, such as a belt or chain, may be used to support and carry the tubes from station' to station either at an intermittent, step by step movement or at a continuous rate of motion.

The tubes to be closed are placed in the holders carried by the conveyor which conveyor will place the tube between the closing and folding jaws I and 2. The jaws, actuated by cams and link motions synchronized with the motion or movement of the conveyor, flatten the tube as they come together to clamp and hold it while the folder shoe 3 slides over the face of the jaws and bends the tube portion extending above the faces of the jaws so as to form the conventional number of folds by the usual number of camcontrolled movements of the elements at this station. I

From this station the tubes are carried to the crimping and sealing jaws I3 and I4, which are shown as two opposed and reciprocating slides receiving their motion through linkage from cams synchronized with the conveyor. While in the illustration both jaws are shown slidable, either one may be stationary and merely serve as an anvil. Usually I4 is the stationary member and I3 acting as the slide or ram for pressing the indentations into the folds of the tube and at the same time, when heat-sealing is resorted to, holding the tube a suflicient length of time to raise thetemperature within the folds so as to effect the fusing of the cements within the folds.

It will not be necessary to describe in detail all of the driving mechanisms for actuating the parts because those skilled in the art will have no difliculty in understanding the principles involved as illustrated in the drawings.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings this machine is shown as having one type of heat control on the right hand side thereof and another type of heat control on the left side thereof.

The closing jaws I and 2 and crimping jaws I3 and I4 have chambers or cavities provided adjacent to operative'faces to receive heating element which in the drawings are shown as electric cartridge heaters 4. In addition to the chambers provided for the heat supplying means 4 there are also chambers or cavities provided for the heat-sensitive elements II and the chambers are located in such relation that effective cooperation is established between the heat-supplying and temperature-controlling elements. The electric heating elements are illustrated as being the simplest and most convenient form of heat supplying means to control but it would not be impossible nor impractical to modify the machine so that gas or steam may be used as a source of supply for the necessary heat, as is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The term fluid,

as used herein, includes electricity, gas, steam, and the like.

When closing tubes by the cement sealing processes described in the co-pending applications referred to above only the crimping jaws I3 and I4 would ordinarily require to be heated. In that case the tubes may be prepared for cement sealing either by being pre-coated before filling or the cement applied after the fllling operation but before the crimping or corrugating of the finished folds.

When a machine of this type is used for closing and folding celluloid tubes the jaws I and 2 are provided with insulation 5 of asbestos or other suitable material. Although not shown the same type of insulation might be required and furnished on the beveled faces of the crimping jaws I3 and I4. This insulation prevents the heated jaws from touching the sides of the tubes except at the folds.

The current supplied to the cartridge heaters 4 is controlled, on the right hand side of the machine, by thermometer controllers generally indicated at 6, and shown as mounted on a panel attached to the frame of the machine but which panel may be placed at any convenient location apart from the machine. Whether mounted rigidly on the machine or in any other location apart from the machine, flexible connections I and I2 would be required for both the cartridge heaters as well as the thermal responsive elements. The thermometer c'ontrollers consist essentially of an electric switch and temperature responsive means for actuating the switch. They are of a type well known to industry and are merely illustrated diagrammatically in the drawings as any type of control device may be used. Cartridge heaters 4 are connected to the switches of controllers 6 by wires I. The opposite side of the switches are connected by wires 0 to a main switch 9 which controls the flow of current from a source of current or inlet wire I0. Controllers 6 and the switches thereof are operated In response to the temperatures of jaws I and 2 by thermal responsive elements or bulbs I I located in cavities in jaws I and 2. Elements II are connected by capillary tubing or other means I! with the switch actuating elements of the controllers 6. The current supplied to cartridge heaters 4 is therefore controlled in response to the temperature of laws I and 2.

Jaws I and 2 and also jaws I3 and I4, herein mentioned, are provided with wells II adapted to contain mercury or other heat conducting fluid. These wells are adapted to receive the end of the thermometer T for the purpose of testing the temperature of the Jaws.

On the left hand side of the drawings I have disclosed another type of temperature control. This consists of cartridge heaters 4 contained in the crimping jaws I3 and I4. The cartridge heaters are connected by wires I to the main switch 9 which controls the supply of current I Ill One of the wires I contains in series therewith a thermostat I8 of any well known type. The thermostat It may be mounted directly on the jaws. This thermostat contains a switch or other current control mechanism adapted to be operated from a thermal responsive element or bulb II which is connected to the thermostat I6 by a capillary tube or other means II. The heat supplied by the eartridge heaters 4 is therefore controlled by the temperatures of the jaws l3 and I4 by means of the thermal responsive elements II. The purpose of the mounting shown in this modiflcation is to avoid the necessity of flexible connections between the thermostats I6 and the thermal sensitive elements II, the connections from the thermostats I6 and the cartridge heaters 4 to the main switch 9 being through flexible connections 'I. v

I have only shown two types of temperature controlling means but other means may also be used such as, for example, a rheostat adjusted to supply the, required current, which will satisfy thedegree of. an indicating thermometer. The method of mounting the controlling means is governed by the amount of space required, the convenience and practicability of line connections, etc.

In Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings there is shown a modification of my device in which heat is supplied to the jaws by means of a fluid, such as steam. Only one of the jaws is illustrated in this figure as it will be readily understood that heat may be supplied to the other jaws in a like manner. This modification consists of the jaw I having a thermal sensitive element ll therein which is connected by means of a flexible, capillary tube |2 or other means with a bellows which serves as the operating element for mov able switch contact 5| which is adapted for cooperation with stationary switch contact 52. Movable switch contact 5| is maintained in operative connection with bellows 50 by a spring 53 or other convenient means. Switch contacts 5| and 52 are interposed in the electric circuit connections 1 which lead from a main switch 9 to a source of electric energy Ill. The circuit of wires 1 also includes a solenoid 54 which is mounted so that its armature 55 operates a lever or linkage 56 connected to a movable valve element 51 which opens and closes a port in valve casing 58 against the stress of spring 59 or like means. Valve casing 58 is interposed in a conduit 60 which is connected by means of a flexible section 6| to a cavity 44 in jaw I through which the heating means passes and escapes through the flexible outlet connection 62 to exhaust or return line. It will thus be seen that the supply of the heating medium to cavity 44 in jaw is controlled by movable valve element 51 which in turn is controlled by solenoid 54 which is responsive to the actuations of switch 5|, 52 in response to bellows 50 which is in turn responsive to thermal sensitive element There is thus provided automatic means for regulating the heat supplied to jaw As mentioned above, a temperature of F. is the maximum for celluloid tubes but for certain types of cemented tube closures' a temperature of 280 to 300 is necessary. In closing'celluloid tubes I have found it of decided advantage to use heated closing and folding mechanism as well as heated crimping jaws for seating the clips.

A All clips are provided with dents in the sides which keep the clips in place and prevent them from becoming detached or loosened, and by. using heat in pressing the clip tight onto the folds, these dents will seat more readily and become more firmly embedded in the celluloid walls, without causing cracks in the folds, or having a tendency to spring apart by the resistance in the folds or by the elasticity found in the celluloid material.

When cement sealing collapsible tubes it is usually only necessary to use the heated crimp ing jaws and make the folds with the standard jaws without applying heat.

The type of closing and folding mechanism as well as the crimping members are merely used to illustrate the invention. I do not, however, limit myself to the particular shapes or forms shown by thedrawings nor to the relative relationship of the various closing and crimping means.

I do not intend to be limited in the practice of my invention save as the scope of the prior art and of the attached claims may require.

I claim:

1. A tube closing machine having jaws suitable for folding and closing collapsible tubes by direct contact, electric heating elements in said jaws, and insulation adjacent the operative faces of said jaws covering the adjacent part of said jaws and located between said parts of said jaws and the tube being operated on but leaving the operative faces of said jaws uncovered.

2. A tube closing machine having means for closing and folding collapsible tubes, second means for crimping the folds in said tubes, electric heating means in said first means and in said second means, and control means for said electric heating means having thermal responsive elements in said first means and in said second means.

3. A tube closing machine having means for closing and folding collapsible tubes, second means for crimping the folds in said tubes, electric cartridge heaters in said first means and in said second means, and control means for said electric cartridge heaters, said control means having thermal responsive elements in said first means and in said second means.

4. A machine for closing and folding collapsible tubes comprising, in combination, jaws for closing and folding collapsible tubes, second jaws for crimping the folds in said tubes, electric heating means in said first and in said second jaws, a source of electric current for said electric heating means, thermal responsive elements in said first jaws and in said second jaws, and control means connected in circuit between said source and said electric heating means and operative in response to said thermal responsive elements.

5. A machine for hermetically sealing collapsible tubes of non-metallic material without the use of a separate metallic clip, said machine comprising, closing and folding jaws, a folder shoe pivotally mounted adjacent said jaws and co operating with said jaws, crimping and sealing jaws, means for conducting a heat-conducting fluid through said closing and folding jaws and through said crimping and sealing jaws, control means for controlling the supply of said fluid to said jaws, and thermal-responsive elements in said closing and folding jaws and in said crimping and sealingjaws and controlling the operation of said control means inresponse to the tempera ture of said jaws.

6. A machine for hermetically sealing collap sible tubes of non-metallic material without the use of a separate metallic clip, said machine comprising, jaws for closing and folding collapsible tubes, second jaws for crimping the folds in said tubes, heating means for conducting heat-conducting fluid through said first jaws and through said second jaws, a source of. heat-conducting fluid for said heating means, thermal-responsive elements in said first jaws and in said second jaws, and control means connected in circuit between said source and said heating means and operative in'response to said thermal-responsive elements.

7. A machine for hermetically sealing metal tubes having a film of cement thereon without the use of a separate metal clip, said machine com prising, unheated closing and folding jaws, a folder shoe pivotally mounted adjacent said jaws and co-operating with said jaws, crimping and sealing jaws, heating means for conducting a heat-conducting fluid through said crimping and sealing jaws, and control means for controlling" above and adjacent said conveyor, heating means for conducting a heat-conducting fluid through said crimping and sealing jaws, thermal-responsive elements within said crimping ands ealing jaws, a source or heat-conducting fluid for said heating means, and control means spaced from said jaws and connected in circuit between said source and said heating means and operative in response to said thermal-responsive elements to control the flow 01' said heat-conducting fluid.

CHARLES J. mm. 

